CN1111302A

CN1111302A - Washing machine and method for controlling the drying process thereof

Info

Publication number: CN1111302A
Application number: CN95101247A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 吴升燮
Original assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: WiniaDaewoo Co Ltd
Priority date: 1994-02-07
Filing date: 1995-01-19
Publication date: 1995-11-08
Anticipated expiration: 2015-01-19
Also published as: EP0666355B1; US5537761A; KR950025142A; JPH07222888A; TW264517B; EP0666355A1; AU7883094A; JP3011629B2; CN1063811C; DE69418589D1; AU687901B2

Abstract

A method for controlling the drying process of a vortex-type washing machine comprises the steps of (A) heating an ambient air by a heater, (B) driving a motor in a forward direction, (C) driving the motor in a reverse direction, and (D) repeating the steps (B) to (C) until the laundry article become dried to a desired dry level, wherein each of the steps (B) and (C) includes the steps of (a) turning on the motor to rotate the pulsator to spread the laundry article; (b) turning off the motor to pause the rotation of the pulsator to thereby help the settlement of the laundry article; and (c) repeating the steps (a) to (b) at least N number of times.

Description

Washing machine and method for controlling the drying process thereof

The present invention is relevant with the washing machine that can wash, dewater and dry washing clothes; And, in particular to being used for controlling the laundry that is installed in the washing machine method of dryer.

By and large, in fact two class use in washing machine are arranged in washing the thing that quilt such as clothes is for example washed.The first kind comprises a kind of Scroll-tupe washing machine, and pulsation generator wherein rotates, and produces swirling water current in Wash tub, makes washing clothes be subjected to cleaning function.In the broadest sense, this swirl type washing machine can comprise the stirring type washing machine, and wherein the washing clothes agitator that is arranged at mat electricity blade type in the laundry current carries out violent fricting movement.Under normal circumstances, drying mechanism is not installed in this quasi-tradition swirl type washing machine the inside.

Second class comprises a kind of laundry drum type washing machine that horizontally rotates the laundry drum that is equipped with, and this laundry tympanic part branch is immersed in the laundry water.With the type laundry washer thing, when laundry drum during, being contained in the interior washing clothes of laundry drum around own horizontal rotational shaft, will rub mutually.5,058, No. 401 United States Patent (USP)s of people such as village Wen Nan are exactly can wash and dewater and dry an example of this type of second type washing machine of washing clothes in awarding to.In the process that the washing clothes of previous dehydration procedure dewatered and washed part is being dried, the interior bucket that dewatered and washed part clothing is housed is around horizontal rotational shaft, and the air that heated is also sent inside groove to, and washing clothes just is exposed under the hot-air equably, with the row oven dry.

Traditionally, the air that heated must concentrate on the washing clothes that dewatered certain a bit on, at least six ten seconds, reach dry to guarantee clothing.Yet, in the second type washing machine,, thus, be directed at that drying time is spun out and power loss because washing machine inner tub ceaselessly rotation in drying course spreads on the whole zone of washing machine inner tub hot-air.

Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide a kind of swirl type washing machine, in this washing machine cloth drying machine is housed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide methodology, so that in the process of oven dry, and the cloth drying machine in the control swirl type washing machine.

According to the present invention, provide a cover improved method at this, with the drying procedure of control swirl type washing machine, this washing machine contains bucket, and this barrel is enough to hold the washing clothes that will dry, and heater rotatably is contained in the pulsation generator on the wash bucket lower surface; Be used for rotating the motor of pulsation generator, wherein the step that comprises of the method has: (A) use heater supply hot-air to wash bucket; (B) towards positive veer CD-ROM drive motor; (C) towards the reverse directions CD-ROM drive motor; And (D) repeating step (B) and (C) until washing clothes be dried to desirable program.In addition, step (B) reaches and (C) respectively contains the following step: (a) starter rotates the pulsation generator, with the washing clothes that scatters; (b) turn off motor, the rotation of pulse generator is suspended, get off to assist the washing clothes calmness; And (c) repeating step (a) and (b) at least N time.In step (B) and (C), this method further comprises step (E): motor is being switched to counter-rotating by just changeing, or by counter-rotating switch to just change before, stop one predefined period of CD-ROM drive motor, so that the washing clothes that scatters is exposed under the hot-air.

Below please study carefully with regard to the related description and the accompanying drawing contrast of all preferred embodiments, so that the premises of the present invention and other purposes and characteristic become distincter, wherein:

Fig. 1 is the summary profile of the unitary construction of a swirl type washing machine that the dryer that constitutes according to the present invention is housed;

Fig. 2 is for showing the general block diagram of the control device that constitutes according to the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a chart, and the relation between oven dry degree and the drying efficiency is described; And

Fig. 4 A and 4B are all flow chart, and the control sequence that control device shown in Figure 2 is performed is described.

Now, see also Fig. 1, shown among the figure is a washing machine that the cloth drying machine that constitutes according to the present invention is housed.Washing machine 10 comprises shell 12 and is fixed at a static wash bucket 14 in the shell 12, so that hold the laundry water or the wash solution of certain altitude, what be connected on static wash bucket 14 bottoms is that 30, one groups of clutch assemblies 32 of an electro-motor then are coupled on the electro-motor 30 via belt-pulley assembly 34.As shown in the figure, electro-motor 30 and clutch assembly 32, are fixed on the static Wash tub 14 as electric welding or bolt firmly all with suitable fixed form.Decide on drying procedure, electro-motor 30 can clockwise or rotate counterclockwise, and clutch assembly 32 then is used for optionally coupling the driving force that electro-motor 30 is produced with first driven shaft 36 or second driven shaft 38.

First driven shaft 36 is loaded with a rotatable wash bucket 16 on its top, this bucket keeps motionless in the laundry degree, but then rotation at a high speed in dehydration procedure.On the bucket wall of rotatable bucket 16 many flow of liquor through holes 40 are arranged, these openings can allow cleaning solution flow to or flow out rotatable groove 16.

Be contained in rotationally on rotatable bucket 16 lower surface is the pulsation generator 20 that is driven by second driven shaft 38.Pulsation generator 20 can positive direction or counter-rotation, so that produce eddy-currents in the inside of rotatable bucket 16.

A heater 26 is equipped with at the top of shell 12, is used for the air of circumference, and a fan 28 also is housed, and this fan blows into rotatable bucket 16 with the air that heated under the control of control device 100.The air that fan 28 is blown, enter rotatable bucket 16 via air inlet 42, and in bucket, circulate, after finishing circulation, portion of air is directly discharged by the top of rotatable bucket 16 through the gas outlet 46, and another part air, flow through passage between the lid of top and stationary tub 14 of many apertures 40 and rotatable bucket 16 is by gas outlet 46 discharges.

Fig. 2 is the skeleton diagram that is used for controlling the control device 100 of washing machine 10 drying procedures.Control device 100 comprises that a switchboard 50, detects piece 60, a microprocessor 70 and a load driving circuit 90.As shown in Figure 2, switchboard 50 and detection piece 60 are all received the input of microprocessor 70, and load driving circuit 90 is then received the output of microprocessor 70.

Switchboard 50 comprises an oven dry mode selection switch 52, and the drying time length selector switch 54 of drying time length is manually selected in confession.Via oven dry mode selection switch 52 selected oven dry patterns, and by after the drying time length selector switch 54 setting drying time length, the indication drying procedure removes to dry the oven dry mode select signal of washing clothes, just is sent to microprocessor 70.Microprocessor 70, in order to respond the oven dry mode select signal, the drying time length that will manually be selected according to drying time length selector switch 54 perhaps according to the following drying time length that is predetermined discussed of being about to, is carried out drying procedure.

Detect piece 60 and comprise a load sensor 62, be used for the weight of washing clothes in the rotatable bucket 16 of sensing, and a temperature-sensitive sticker 64, be used for temperature in the rotatable bucket 16 of sensing.As known in the art, load sensor 62 and temperature-sensitive sticker 64 sense after weight and the temperature, and the temperature signal of sending a load signal that shows washing clothes weight and a displays temperature respectively is to microprocessor 70.

Microprocessor can be for being applicable to any pattern of this control purpose, and it can self comprise storage area, or connects memory storage in addition.Storage area may comprise many oven dry control formulas of storing with the form of instruction and data.Each oven dry control formula is by selecting for use from the load signal of load sensor 62.For responding load signal, a series of instruction and data may be carried out and handle to microprocessor 70, controls signal to load driving circuit 90 to provide.

Load driving circuit 90 comprises fans drive circuit 92 and motor driver circuit 94.Fans drive circuit 92 can start fan 28 as shown in Figure 1 from the requirement of the fan control signal of microprocessor 70, blows the hot-air that heater 26 is produced.Motor driver circuit 94 can be from the requirement of the motor control signal of microprocessor 70, and starter 30 is with control pulsation generator 20.Motor control signal comprises positive direction and drives signal in the other direction that these signals are constantly delivered to motor driver circuit 92 in drying course.Thus, motor is mutual conversion rotation in positive direction and in the other direction, makes pulsation generator 20 make positive direction and counter-rotation.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in the process of positive direction and counter-rotation each time, motor 30 ceaselessly is limited by the ON/OFF control action, makes pulsation generator 20 at each direction periodical rotation and time-out.

Any time as long as rotation direction is toward changing in the other direction, the rotation of pulsation generator 20 and the periodicity of halted state repeat, will carry out N time, wherein N be positive integer (N=1,2,3 ...).N is preferably from 2 to 4, and this point is described as follows with example.

Pulsation generator 20 periodic repeated rotation and time-outs help to untie or do loose washing clothes, because of these clothings may be stirred tangle up by quilt in dehydration.We have found that pulsation generator 20, begin that the angle of rotation is no more than 180 degree, be preferably in about 90 degree, effectively the washing clothes of disentanglement by halted state.As long as the cycle " T1 " that the motor energising is rotated is about 0.2 to 0.4 second, the angle that pulsation generator 20 is rotated is 90 degree.

Periodical breaks state in pulsation generator 20 rotation processes is to be used for making the washing clothes that always is agitated when pulsation generator 20 rotates steady; Sustainable one period cycle of this halted state " T2 " and T2 can be 0.3 second to 1 second, and are preferably 0.6 second.

Also have, after execution cycle property repetition N time, also do not change in the other direction from positive direction, perhaps, before also not transferring positive direction to from opposite direction, motor 30 preferably is controlled as and stops, so that pulsation generator 20 is parked in one period predefined time cycle an of idle state " T3 ".Can make the air that heated fully concentrate on the part that the clothing heap exposes outside during this section that suspends, to improve drying efficiency.Can make motor 30 about 20 to 30 seconds, and be preferably 20 seconds time interval at the time remaining of this halted state.

Fig. 3 is a chart, shows the data of resulting under various conditions different oven dry degree, and these data are 2 and 3 at N, and time interval is under 20 to 40 seconds the condition, obtains in the mode of experiment.This relation is as previously described, is prerequisite with revolution 90 degree.

Thus figure as can be seen, when N is 3, and time cycle when being 20 seconds, data demonstrate higher dryness fraction.In addition, obviously this and not shown, can release, even N is 4,5 or higher, also can obtain identical in essence result.

Now, see also Fig. 4 A and 4B, reality is narrated the operation of drying procedure in the mode of flow chart among the figure, wherein controls operation from square frame 112, after the user pressed oven dry mode selection switch 52, load sensor 62 was promptly measured the weight of washing clothes.Load sensor 62 measured weight signals are sent to microprocessor 70.

In

step

114,1 listed the measuring weight, automatic setting drying time cycle " Td " of microprocessor 70 tables of comparisons.

Table 1

The oven dry back dehydration back time

The washing clothes washing clothes cycle (branch)

Weight (kg) weight (kg)

1 1.82 60

2 3.7 120

3 5.45 180

4 7.27 240

The drying time cycle also can be set by the 54 selected times of drying time length selector switch.

With 118, heater 26 and fan 28 are driven under the control of microprocessor 70 in step 116, and with the cycle air heat, and the air that will heat is blown into rotatable bucket 16 via air inlet 42.Then, when control program proceeds to step 120,, judge whether the temperature " Hb " in the rotatable bucket 16 has reached the required temperature " Ht " of predefined oven dry washing clothes here, 30 degree for example Celsius.If temperature Hb reaches predefined temperature " Ht ", control sequence just proceeds to

step

122 and 124, wherein pulse generator 20 in first predefined time cycle " T1 ", with the angular turn of one 90 degree, in second predefined time cycle " T2 ", suspend then earlier.

In step 126, the repeatability of pulsation generator is rotated and halted state will be repeated N time for example 3 times.After this, control program proceeds to step 128, so that pulsation generator 20 is in idle state in the 3rd the predefined time cycle " T3 ".

After the 3rd the time cycle, " T3 " crossed, the rotation direction of motor 30 was transformed in the other direction in step 130, and control program then advances to step 132.

Whether in step 132, what check is, is used to dry the time cycle " Ts " of washing clothes, reached as in the predetermined drying time cycle " Td " described in the step 114.The result who supposes test is " non-", and control program is got back to step 122 again, from there, proceeds foregoing operation again, until period of time T s reaches till the predefined period of time T d.Yet the result who supposes test is a "Yes", and control program is promptly gone to step 134, arrives step 136 then, and here, heater 26 and fan 28 all are switched off, to finish drying procedure.

Obviously the present invention shows with regard to all preferred embodiments and describes, for being skillful in those of ordinary skill in the art, clearly, still can put before the defined spirit of the present invention of claims and scope not departing from hereinafter, carry out numerous variations and modification.

Claims

1, a kind of method of controlling the drying course of swirl type washing machine, this washing machine have the bucket that is used to hold washing clothes and dries therein, heater, rotationally be contained in this wash bucket bottom the pulsation generator, rotate the used motor of this pulsation generator, it is characterized in that the step that this method comprises has:

(A) use this heater to provide the air that heated to this wash bucket;

(B) drive this motor towards positive direction;

(C) drive this motor in the opposite direction; And

(D) repeating step (B) is dried desirable degree to step (C) up to washing clothes, and wherein step (B) and step (C) respectively comprise the following steps:

(a) start this motor to rotate this pulsation generator, make the washing clothes in this rotating cylinder launch;

(b) turn off this motor temporarily to cut off the rotation of this pulsation generator, get off to help the washing clothes calmness; And

(c) repeating step (a) arrives step (b) N time at least.

2, in accordance with the method for claim 1, wherein this N is 2 or 3.

3, in accordance with the method for claim 1, wherein this method comprises that further a step is between step (B) and step (C):

(E) change into reverse directions at this pulsation generator by positive veer, perhaps change into before the positive veer by reverse directions on the contrary, stop to drive this motor, make this pulsation generator be in one period preset time cycle of idle state, the washing clothes after launching is exposed under the air that heated.

4, in accordance with the method for claim 3, wherein, in step (a), this pulsation generator is no more than 180 degree by the angle of this revolution.

5, in accordance with the method for claim 4, wherein, in step (a), this pulsation generator is about 90 degree by the angle of this revolution.

6, in accordance with the method for claim 5, wherein, in step (b), the time cycle scope that the halted state of this pulsation generator is performed is 0.3 second to 1 second.

7, in accordance with the method for claim 5, wherein, in step (b), the time cycle that the halted state of this pulsation generator is performed is about 0.6 second.

8, in accordance with the method for claim 7, wherein, in step (E), the idle state of pulsation generator is 20 seconds to 30 seconds by the time cycle scope that continues.

9, in accordance with the method for claim 8, wherein, in step (E), the idle state of this pulsation generator is 20 seconds by the time cycle that continues.

10, in accordance with the method for claim 1, wherein this method further comprises a step (F) in step (A) before: set the drying time cycle of a predetermined decision, make washing clothes dry desirable degree.